Kansas City, Missouri, United States - Reflecting God – Embrace Holy Living - “When Faith Fails” – Monday, 30 June 2014 - Scripture: Exodus 17:1-7

Kansas City, Missouri, United States - Reflecting God – Embrace Holy Living - “When Faith Fails” – Monday, 30 June 2014 - Scripture: Exodus 17:1 All the congregation of the children of Israel traveled from the wilderness of Sin, by their journeys, according to Yahweh’s commandment, and encamped in Rephidim; but there was no water for the people to drink. 2 Therefore the people quarreled with Moses, and said, “Give us water to drink.”
Moses said to them, “Why do you quarrel with me? Why do you test Yahweh?”
3 The people were thirsty for water there; and the people murmured against Moses, and said, “Why have you brought us up out of Egypt, to kill us, our children, and our livestock with thirst?”
4 Moses cried to Yahweh, saying, “What shall I do with these people? They are almost ready to stone me.”
5 Yahweh said to Moses, “Walk on before the people, and take the elders of Israel with you, and take the rod in your hand with which you struck the Nile, and go. 6 Behold, I will stand before you there on the rock in Horeb. You shall strike the rock, and water will come out of it, that the people may drink.” Moses did so in the sight of the elders of Israel. 7 He called the name of the place Massah,[ Exodus 17:7 Massah means testing.] and Meribah,[ Exodus 17:7 Meribah means quarreling.] because the children of Israel quarreled, and because they tested Yahweh, saying, “Is Yahweh among us, or not?”
“When Faith Fails” by Wil Watson
The Israelites had a big problem: lots of desert but no water to be found, hordes of people plus livestock, bad reports from the water scouts, no streams; no river; not even an oasis. They had parched lips and swelling tongues; survival seemed doubtful. And, the people complained. Oh, how they complained! They yelled at Moses, their leader, and probably even cursed him.
Their real problem: Lack of faith? Maybe—God had never failed them; why doubt Him now! Entitlement mentality? Perhaps—they had easy manna and plenty of quail. Or did the people have a legitimate complaint against God? After all, He led them here; He was responsible for the mess they were in. So, they “put God to the test” (v. 2). Many Bible characters did. Remember Gideon? David’s psalms are filled with complaints and challenges. Malachi 3:10 says it’s okay to test God. It’s not necessarily a failure of faith.

Here’s the underlying problem: a wrong reason for the test. "Is the Lord among us or not?" (Exodus 17:7). They accused God of abandoning them. That's serious doubt! Wrestle with your circumstances. Test God if you must. Just don’t give up on Him. He never gives up on you!

Hymn for Today:

“O for A Faith That Will Not Fail” by William H. Bathurst
1. O for a faith that will not shrink.
Though pressed by many a foe,
That will not tremble on the brink
Of any earthly woe;
2. That will not murmur nor complain
Beneath the chastening rod,
But, in the hour of grief or pain
Can lean upon its God;
3. A faith that shines more bright and clear
When tempests rage without;
That, when in danger, knows no fear,
In darkness feels no doubt;
4. A faith that keeps the narrow way
Till life's last spark is fled,
And with a pure and heavenly ray
Lights up a dying bed.
5. Lord, give me such a faith as this,
And then, whate'er may come,
I taste e'en now the hallowed bliss
Of an eternal home.
Thought for Today:
“Dark days can develop bright hope.”
Prayer Needs:
For faculty and students as they prepare for Christian ministry in Kenya!
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